What Does Baptism have to do with Salvation?

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Perhaps you were never taught to be baptized. Maybe you’ve never been challenged to consider the

issue. If this is the case, we urge you to give thought to what God says about baptism. This does not

negate your faith up to this point. God has led you to where you are today. Part of growing in our

knowledge of Christ is an openness to understand and be obedient to new areas we discover in His

word. Baptism is an opportunity to humble yourself and receive God’s gift of grace and mercy.

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Does the act of baptism itself save a person?

No. Scripture is abundantly clear that only Jesus saves.

Act 4:12 says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

The work of salvation is a finished work by Christ on the cross. Baptism has no redemptive powers of its own. There is nothing special about the water in the river, pond, or baptistry. If baptism itself could save, the cross of Jesus would have no real meaning.

“…and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.”

I Peter 3:21-22

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Should a person ever be re-baptized?

Baptism is a one time personal faith response to God’s offer of salvation. Re-baptism is only

encouraged for those who lack confidence in their initial baptism because they don’t remember it, they were coerced into it, or their heart was not right at the time.

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What if a person is not baptized—can he or she be saved?

After Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, the pattern and teaching we see in the New

Testament is clear: after hearing the message of Jesus, people put their faith in Jesus, repented of their sin, and were baptized. Each time they responded without questioning the necessity of baptism.

While the ultimate answer to the above question must be left up to God, consider this question: Why

not be baptized when God was clear that we should?

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What if I was sprinkled as a child?

First, you should be grateful you had parents who cared about you to set you apart for God. Because of their devotion, you now have an opportunity to complete their prayer by willingly submitting to Christ in His call to be immersed. 

Second, being immersed is not a sign of disrespect for what your parents did, nor is it an act of

condemnation against them. Be thankful for the heritage of concerned parents, but don’t be negligent of your responsibility as an adult to make your personal commitment and obedience to God in baptism.

Many who are now members of this congregation were sprinkled as infants and then, when seeing what the bible said about adult baptism through immersion, were baptized into Christ. God has led you to this point and we pray you will take the next step soon.

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If God knows my heart, isn’t that enough?

The two cannot be neatly separated. For example, the physical act of disobedience brought about a

spiritual result in the Garden of Eden (Genesis chapters 1-3). In addition, the physical birth, death, and

resurrection of Jesus brings the greatest spiritual gift to us: salvation. We should not be surprised that

a spiritual decision to accept Christ by faith is linked with a physical response like baptism.

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